Modes of Production and Theories of Transition - David Laibman, 1984 - Sage Journals
journals.sagepub.com
A 1984 Marxist deep-dive resurrects the "modes of production" debate — asking whether history shifts by internal collapse or external pressure, and why the answer still matters for understanding capitalism's future.
Modes of ProductionHistorical MaterialismMarxist TheoryTheory of Social Transition
Theory Briefing
- Laibman's 1984 Sage paper systematically examines how societies transition between distinct modes of production, from feudalism to capitalism.
- The core theoretical tension is whether transitions are driven by internal contradictions within a mode or by class struggle and external shocks.
- The framework carries live stakes — how we theorize past transitions shapes predictions about whether capitalism itself can be superseded.